Aglaonema plant named `Brilliant`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema named `Brilliant` particularly characterized by its mostly upright and somewhat outwardly arching plant habit; propensity to readily produce divisions; upper leaf surfaces that are glossy silver green with white, yellowish green, light green and dark green streaks and spots; light green to white midveins; oblong and broad leaf shape; white petioles; low-temperature tolerance; and resistance to diseases common to Aglaonema.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAglaonema plant, botanically known as Aglaonema hybrid, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Brilliant.

The new Aglaonema is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the inventor in Valkaria, Fla. The objective of the breeding programwas to develop new Aglaonemas with unique and interesting leaf patternsand that produce numerous divisions. The new Aglaonema originated from across made by the inventor in 1991 of the Aglaonema hybrid cultivarManila Pride (not patented) as the female, or seed, parent with theAglaonema hybrid cultivar Mona Lisa (not patented) as the male, orpollen, parent. The cultivar Brilliant was discovered and selected bythe inventor as a seedling within the progeny of the stated cross in acontrolled environment in Valkaria, Fla.

Compared to plants of the female parent cultivar, Manila Pride, plantsof the new Aglaonema are much shorter and produce significantly moredivisions. In addition, plants of the cultivar Manila Pride have pinkpetioles whereas plants of the new Aglaonema have white petioles.

Compared to plants of the male parent cultivar, Mona Lisa, plants of thenew Aglaonema produce significantly more divisions and are much morecold-tolerant. In addition, plants of the cultivar Mona Lisa have greenpetioles whereas plants of the new Aglaonema have white petioles.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by divisions at Zolfo Springs,Fla., since 1992, has shown that the unique features of this newAglaonema plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

The new Aglaonema has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, fertilizer rate,and/or irrigation amount and frequency without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Brilliant`. These characteristics incombination distinguish `Brilliant` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Plants of the new Aglaonema are mostly upright and somewhat outwardlyarching in plant habit.

2. Plants of the new Aglaonema readily produce divisions.

3. The upper surfaces of mature leaves of plants of the new Aglaonemaare glossy silver green with white, yellowish green, light green anddark green streaks and spots. Midveins are light green to white.

4. The leaves of the new Aglaonema are oblong and broad.

5. Mature leaves of plants of the new Aglaonema have white petioles.

6. Plants of the new Aglaonema are tolerant of low termperatures, thatis, ambient temperatures of about 7° C. do not cause foliar damage.

7. Plants of the new Aglaonema are resistant to diseases common toAglaonema.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical plant of `Brilliant` in a 25.5-cm container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view ofthe upper surface of a mature leaf. Leaf colors in the photographs mayappear different from the actual colors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Zolfo Springs, Fla., under a polypropylene-covered shadehouseand conditions which closely approximate those used in horticulturalpractice. Plants were grown under day temperatures ranging from 21 to38° C. and night temperatures ranging from 7 to 21° C. The polypropyleneshade provided a 84 percent decrease in ambient light level. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Aglaonema hybrid cultivar Brilliant.

Parentage:

Female, or seed, parent.--Aglaonema hybrid cultivar Manila Pride, notpatented.

Male, or pollen, parent.--Aglaonema hybrid cultivar Mona Lisa, notpatented.

Propagation:

Type.--By division and by cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--About 26 and 37 days at 30 and 21° C.,respectively.

Time to develop roots.--About 38 and 44 days at 30 and 21° C.,respectively.

Rooting habit.--Numerous thick, fleshy, white roots.

Plant description:

Plant shape.--Mostly upright and somewhat outwardly arching.

Growth habit.--Erect when young, becoming somewhat outwardly arching.Appropriate for 25.5-cm containers. Readily produces divisions.

Plant size.--Height, soil surface to top of leaf canopy: About 64 cm.Width: About 68 cm.

Plant vigor.--Moderate.

Stem description.--Diameter at soil surface: About 2.25 cm. Internodelength: About 1.75 cm. Color, mature: Yellowish green.

Foliage description.--Shape: Oblong, broad. Length, fully expanded:About 32 cm. Width, fully expanded: About 13 cm. Margin: Entire. Apex:Acuminate. Base: Cuneate. Aspect: Mostly flat. Texture: Leathery,smooth, glabrous, glossy on both surfaces. Color: Young, upper surface:Background: Silver green, close to 191B/194B. Green spots/streaks: 144A.Yellowish green spots/streaks: About 150B/150C. White spots/streaks:155A and 150D. Young, lower surface: Background: Green, 146B/146C. Whitespots/streaks: 155A. Mature, upper surface: Background: Silver green,close to 191A. Dark green spots/streaks: 147A to darker than 147A. Lightgreen and yellowish green spots/streaks: 144A, 154A, and 150A/150B/150C.White spots/streaks: 155A and 150D. Mature, lower surface: Background:Green, close to 146A. White spots/streaks: 155A and 150D. Petiolelength, primary shoot: About 23 cm. Petiole diameter at apex: About 7mm. Petiole diameter at base: About 1.25 cm. Petiole wing: Apparent onlower 67% of mature leaf petiole, about 15 cm in length and about 7.5 mmin width. Petiole color: Young: Light green, 145C/145D. Mature: Mostlywhite, 155A. Venation, midvein: Immature, upper surface: Light green,145C. Immature, lower surface: Light green, 145D. Mature, upper surface:Light green, 145C/145D, to white, 155A. Mature, lower surface: White,155A.

Inflorescence.--Typical of Aglaonema, no commercial significance.

Disease tolerance: Plants of the new Aglaonema are resistant to diseasescommon to Aglaonema.

Low temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Aglaonema are tolerant oflow temperatures, that is, ambient temperatures of about 7° C. do notcause foliar damage.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema plant named `Brilliant`, as illustrated and described. 